Energy Star Freezers

Interestingly, ENERGY STAR qualified stand-alone freezer models use at least 10% less energy than required by current federal standards and qualified freezer models are available in three configurations:

• upright freezers with automatic defrost

• upright freezers with manual defrost

• chest freezers with manual defrost only

ENERGY STAR compact (less than 7.75 cubic feet) refrigerator/freezer combinations use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards.

Here are a few ENERGY STAR stand-alone freezers with varying prices and sizes:

• 24 in Origin Series Built in White Under-counter All Freezer, Model 75FW by U-Line Corporation, 6 cu. ft. (Est. Price $895.00)

• Maytag Upright MQU1656BEW, 15.7 cu. ft. capacity, auto defrost (Est. Price $570)

• White Kenmore Chest Freezer, Sears Item #04616352000, Mfr. model# 16352 13 cu. ft. (Est. Price $420)

• GE FCM5DRWH 5.0 Cu. Ft. Manual Defrost Chest Freezer (Est. Price $290)

Tip About Freezer Efficiency and Convenience

For those who don’t have the need or the floor space for a free-standing freezer, but instead prefer a combination refrigerator/freezer, the bottom-freezer refrigerator, a unit that has the fresh foods compartment on the top and the freezer on the bottom, is growing in popularity.

Interestingly, of the three major refrigerator-freezer configurations—top-freezer, side-by-side and bottom-freezer—the bottom-freezer models are generally the most energy efficient. This is because warm air rises and in these models, the warmer part of the appliance is located on top.

Bottom-freezer fridges are also more convenient. With the main compartment of a bottom-freezer fridge at eye level, it's easier to store and access foods in this compartment than it would be in a top-freezer model, where you usually have to stoop to store items. Storage is also better for full-sized frozen pizza than a typical side-by-side model because the freezer runs the full width of the refrigerator.

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